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Biography information for Lord Hylton

max answer › question first answered

2015-01-21T17:22:14.847Z

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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government
of Israel concerning (1) the removal of two military bases in the West Bank in order
to allow for the expansion of existing settlements, (2) the Israeli air attack on
a cement factory near Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip on 20 or 21 December, (3) the elimination
of delays and full normal opening of the Tulkarm Crossing-point for Palestinians with
permission to work in Israel, (4) approval for the construction of 243 houses on West
Bank land illegally annexed to Jerusalem, and (5) Israeli naval vessels firing live
ammunition at Palestinian fishermen off Gaza, damaging several boats.

While we have not raised these specific issues, we have repeatedly condemned Israel’s
announcements to expand settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including
East Jerusalem. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly bring up the issue
of settlements with the Israeli National Security Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Ministry of Defence contacts. We are aware of an attack by the Israeli Defence
Forces against “Hamas terror infrastructure” in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza
after a rocket was fired into Israel from Gaza on 19 December. Our Ambassador discussed
this matter with the Israeli Ministry of Defence. Officials from our Embassy in Tel
Aviv regularly meet with the Israeli authorities – including the Israeli Office for
the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories/Ministry of Defence and
the National Security Adviser - to urge them to ease restrictions on Gaza, including
the movement of commercial goods, and persons from and to the Gaza Strip. Our Embassy
in Tel Aviv is looking into the situation faced by Gazan fishermen and will consider
Government action on this issue.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether positive results have come from their programmes
to strengthen the judiciary and to reform the security services in Bahrain; and, if
such results have not yet come, when they expect to see improvements.

We judge that since 2011 a number of incremental steps have been made to strengthen
the judiciary and to reform the security services in Bahrain. The UK is providing
a package of technical assistance to support progress in line with the recommendations
of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and UN Universal Periodic Review.
These include the establishment of the Ministry of Interior’s Ombudsman’s Office to
receive complaints and to oversee and conduct investigations, the establishment of
a Prisoners’ and Detainees’ Rights Commission and reform of the National Institute
of Human Rights. The British Government continues to work closely with the Government
of Bahrain to provide practical assistance in torture prevention, judicial reform,
civil service capacity building and community neighbourhood policing.

We have serious concerns about the use of punitive demolitions to destroy the homes
of the families of Palestinian suspected terrorists by the Israeli authorities. On
20 November, a senior official from our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised these concerns
with Alon Ushpiz, Political Director of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during
a joint demarche with EU partners. In separate discussions, officials from our Embassy
in Tel Aviv have also registered concerns about this policy with a number of Israeli
officials from the National Security Council and Prime Minister's Office.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government
of Israel and the Palestinian Authority towards achieving access to the Noble Sanctuary
in Jerusalem, and other historic sites, for Palestinians in the West Bank and more
widely for visitors from the Middle East and the rest of the world.

We have made representations to the Government of Israel that it is vital that the
longstanding status quo in respect of access to Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif, and
other historic sites, be preserved. We raised the issue of access restrictions numerous
times with the Israeli authorities between September and November last year. Since
the middle of November, Muslims of all ages have been allowed to worship at Temple
Mount/Haram al Sharif. We have also lobbied the Israeli authorities on the wider issues
of movement and access of Palestinians between Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend
the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), asked when the Rafah crossing
might be reopened when he met the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 27 October and again
on 18 November. We continue to raise this issue in our contacts with the Egyptian
government.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government
of Israel about (1) the demolition of homes in the E–1 area and the bulldozing of
walls, adjoining houses and land in Khillet al-Qamar and a plan to displace Bedouin
in the West Bank; and (2) the destruction of the electricity network in Aqraba following
the demolition of houses in al-Tawil in August.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my
hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised strong concerns over
the plans to move the Bedouin population from Area C with the Israeli Justice Minister
on 6 October during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between
5-8 October The issue was also raised by officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv in
meetings with senior officials in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Israeli Prime Minister's Office. We regularly make clear, publicly and privately,
to Israel our serious concerns about the actual or threatened demolition of Palestinian
homes and infrastructure in the West Bank, and the need for a planning process that
adequately addresses the needs of Palestinian communities. Demolitions cause unnecessary
suffering to ordinary Palestinians; are harmful to the peace process; and are, in
all but the most exceptional of cases, contrary to international humanitarian law.
The Fourth Geneva Convention is clear that the destruction of any real or personal
property in Occupied Territory is not justified unless it is rendered absolutely necessary
by military operations. We also make clear to Israeli officials that forcible transfer
would be a breach of International Humanitarian Law and would have serious ramifications
on Israel’s international standing.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the International Court of Justice has ruled
on the claim by Turkey that Israel’s partial blockade of Gaza constitutes illegal
collective punishment; and if so, in what terms.

The International Court of Justice has not ruled on the legality of Israel’s restrictions
around Gaza. The British Government continues to stress to the Israeli authorities
the damage that their restrictions are doing to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians
in Gaza, and that supporting legal trade for Gazans is firmly in Israel’s long-term
interests. We have also encouraged the Egyptian authorities to ease the movement of
bona fide travellers through Rafah, and to consider expanding Rafah to goods transit
in the medium term, which will help to ease humanitarian pressures. Easing Israeli
and Egyptian restrictions would also go some way to alleviate the shortage of medicines
and medical supplies, which are much needed.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have yet received clarification from
the United Arab Emirates as to why they included at least three British charities
in a list of organisations to be blacklisted; and if not, when they expect to do so.

Reports from Kobane continue to be deeply concerning. We have not made representations
about these specific allegations, but we maintain a close dialogue with Turkey on
the evolving crisis in the region. We applaud Turkey’s generosity in hosting over
170,000 refugees that have fled the fighting in Kobane in recent weeks, in addition
to the 1.4 million refugees already in Turkey.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making representations to the government
of Indonesia concerning (1) ceasing to prosecute blasphemy cases, (2) using their
current draft bill revising the criminal code to remove the offence of blasphemy,
(3) upholding freedom of religion and conscience, (4) ensuring freedom of legitimate
expression, and (5) full protection of minorities.

Our Ambassador designate met the Indonesian Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights
on 18 November and raised the rights of religious minorities and freedom of expression.
He was assured that the bill for the Protection of Religious People/Minorities would
be submitted to parliament soon. We also maintain a regular dialogue with religious
leaders, civil society and government officials on freedom of religion or belief;
as well as supporting project work, such as human rights training. The third EU-Indonesia
Human Rights Dialogue was held on 12 November and, in response to concerns we raised,
the new Indonesian government underlined the importance they attach to tackling discrimination
against religious minorities. We are encouraged that the newly inaugurated Indonesian
government has already taken some positive steps to promote freedom of religion or
belief. The Minister of Religious Affairs has announced plans to develop legislation
to strengthen protection to adherents of all religious beliefs and the Minister for
Home Affairs has stated that he is investigating how district and regional governments
can better protect the rights of minorities.